'There are places I'll remember all my life . . .' and those places are Liverpool and London. With sites such as Penny Lane, Strawberry Field and Eleanor Rigby's gravesite, the music and legacy of the Fab Four came to life for my family and me. Nowhere else, but on this tour can Beatles fans get the complete experience with the best tour guides in the business. It was a thrill for us to get tours inside the Casbah Club as well as the childhood homes of John, Paul and yes even Ringo. We will never forget roaming around the Chiswick house where the promo films for Paperback Writer and Rain were filmed, posing on the fire escape from the Can't Buy Me Love sequence, and walking across Abbey Road . . . barefoot and with a ciggie of course. And what Beatles trip would be complete without the Beatles Ale Trail, where we got to relax in the bars that the lads themselves used to frequent' There was no better way to end the Ale Trail with the Jacaranda Club, where my Dad, my brother and I had the honor of performing at the same place where the Beatles used to play.
Some of the sites that we saw were very emotional. There is an indescribable feeling you get when you stand on the steps of the site where the Beatles performed on the rooftop for a final time as a group, when you pay your respects at the gravesite of Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe, and when you have lunch in the hall at St. Peter's Church where John and Paul first met. This trip provided us with a flood of memorable moments that none of us will ever forget.
Until I took your tour I never realized just how spectacular the Matthew Street Festival and the annual Beatles convention at the Adelphi Hotel are. One of the nice things about the Beatle Pilgrimage Tour is that it is so well organized that there is plenty of free time to enjoy both of these great Liverpool events as well as all of the historic sites in London. However, as we found out, the this tour is not limited to Liverpool and London in that pilgrims get the chance to explore the peaceful and very scenic Henley ' on ' Thames where the late George Harrison resided.
Our family felt fortunate to meet so many wonderful people on this trip, especially in Liverpool or what like to call the friendliest place on Earth. In fact I find myself keeping in touch with many of these great people from 'the pool'. Additionally, I never imagined that I would meet the Beatles original drummer Pete Best, Quarry Men Len Garry and Ken Brown, the legendary Tony Sheridan and Donovan, John Lennon's sister Julia Baird, and of course the Beatles original manager Allan Williams '. All in one weekend!
The bottom line is that not only did I have a great time on this dream vacation, but I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the music of the greatest band of all time and anyone who is looking for a family friendly vacation out of the ordinary. I can say that I'm already looking forward to a return visit to Liverpool and London with the Beatle Pilgrimage Tour.
All the best from me to you,
Matt M.
Our four days of Beatle culture on the London Beatle Pilgrimage Tour started on Wednesday, June 4, 2008. My friend and I had just spent a week visiting Liverpool, so we met our group director, Tony Maddalone, at the Lime Street Rail Station before the train ride to London. We checked into our Hotel around 7:00 pm, and then the group took taxis to the original Hard Rock Café. Before supper, we inspected the ‘Rock Memorabilia Vault’ with items from rock legends, including the Beatles. Then we ate our meal in the very busy and loud establishment; it was a different, but entertaining experience.
The next morning, after the customary excellent English breakfast, the group followed Tony through the perils of London’s underground, which was much less confusing than I expected it would be. Being from an extremely small rural area, big cities can be a bit overwhelming for us, especially in regards to their transportation systems. We traveled from the nearby Paddington Station to the Eusten Station, and then visited the British Library to see the Beatle song lyrics that are preserved there. We also went to the London Beatle Store on Baker Street, which was full of unique Beatle items in a rather small space. After traveling back to the hotel through the underground, we had a quick lunch at one of the many eating establishments in the immediate area. Then it was time to meet up with Richard Porter for a two and a half hour walking Beatle tour. Throughout the trek, we checked out several London Beatle sites, including the station where A Hard Day’s Night was filmed, pubs and studios where the Beatles hung out, the place where Paul and Linda met, the place where John and Yoko met, the Apple building where the final rooftop concert took place, and a photography show with a diverse assortment of Linda McCartney’s photographs.
On Friday, we had a full day coach tour with Richard Porter; both Richard and the tour were amazing! We started with the famous Abbey Road crossing and studio. Tony took pictures of the different group members crossing the road; since it is a ‘zebra crossing’ the busy traffic had to stop for us, but we tried to take the pictures when there wasn’t any traffic. Some people were able get pictures taken on the steps going into the studio also. Next we stopped briefly in front of Paul’s current house on Cavendish Avenue, where more quick pictures were snapped.
Then we had a celebrity sighting! We were heading to London's Beatles Coffee Shop, when I noticed a young man standing at the corner vigorously rubbing his eyes with his fists. I was staring at him thinking it seemed such a strange thing to be doing, when Richard informed us that Paul’s son, James, was on the corner rubbing his eyes. I watched as James turned from the corner, flagged a taxi and left. He must have seen our “Rock & Roll Bus” coming and started rubbing his eyes to keep his face hidden, then left as soon as he could. Who can blame him?
The Beatles Coffee Shop had Abbey Road merchandise for sale, along with Richard’s book and DVD, of which we bought copies. After that visit, we went to Chiswick House & Gardens, where the Beatles filmed videos for Paperback Writer and Rain. It was a lovely park, full of trees, flowers, unusual buildings and statues, but best of all for those of us missing our pets back home, there was a surfeit of dogs frolicking around with their owners. The next stop was at the neighborhood where the Beatles filmed the scene in HELP! where they all entered through different numbered doors (#5, #7, #9, and #11) on the outside and walked into one large room on the inside. The following stop was at Twickenham Film Studios where a lot of Beatle filming was done; it is still being used by Paul for his current musical videos.
Our lunch stop included another celebrity sighting! While walking to the Turks Head Pub, our group passed another pub with some people sitting around outdoor tables and we caught a glimpse of Peter Townsend (from The Who) and his wife were among those sitting outside. We enjoyed the delicious lunch of fish & chips as we watched Ringo’s scenes from A Hard Day’s Night that had been filmed in the pub. The Turks Head Pub’s fish & chips were the best I have ever eaten; both the meal and the entertainment were fulfilling in more ways than one.
After lunch we walked along the Thames where Ringo’s renowned scene from A Hard Day’s Night was filmed. There was a pub nearby that had a fireplace and set of stairs dating from 1484, which was an exciting bit of history for us history buffs to admire. After a brief stop at the Royal Albert Hall, we went by the home where Paul had lived with Jane Asher’s family on New Cavendish Street, and then we stopped by Ringo’s former apartment on Montagu Square, which was always full of visiting rock stars; it eventually became the first home for John and Yoko. The fascinating day-long London Beatle Tour ended at Marylebone Station where more scenes from A Hard Day’s Night were filmed. We saw and learned much more than I have described here, including many things we were previously unaware of – and we thought we already knew everything there was to know about the Beatles!
We spent our last London Beatle Tour day (Saturday) at Henley-on-Thames, where George Harrison’s estate, Friar Park, is located. It was the most delightful day of our entire time in England; the small English town was full of treasures, from antiques to Beatle lore. We were slightly apprehensive about trying to deal with traveling by the train, since it is completely foreign to our normal way of life; but by following Tony’s easy directions we had no problems, including changing the train at Twyford both ways. After exploring the shops in the town center, we again followed Tony’s directions to the Row Barge Pub (Brakspear), which is along the way to Friar Park. It was a little after noon, so we stopped for lunch in the pub, where George and Eric Clapton used to hang out and have jam sessions. Surprisingly, the pub was empty so we enjoyed our fish & chips by ourselves, while imagining our rock heroes spending time in there. The waiter said that George’s son, Dhani, still came in sometimes when he was in the area. The pub was quite comfortable and distinctive, but a bit off the beaten path; we could understand why it would have been appealing to the Harrisons and Claptons. After lunch, we walked up to the gates of Friar Park (but stayed 10 feet away in accordance with Tony’s logical request), and took pictures of the charming caretaker’s cottage, which actually looked like a mansion. We wished we could see the whole estate, not only because it belonged to George, but also because it must be really unique and picturesque. The marvelous day was the most enchanting way to end the London Beatle Pilgrimage Tour!
We had requested three extra days in London after the Beatle Tour. Our room was very comfortable and modern; it even had air conditioning. We really liked the location and neighborhood for the customary London sight-seeing. It was a 15 minute walk to the British Museum, where we saw such priceless treasures as the Rosetta Stone and mummies galore. Some of the other London highlights we managed to see were Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Harrods, and a play at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Coincidently, we learned later that this was the same theatre where John Lennon made his renowned “rattle your jewelry” comment! We used the red buses for our transportation to the different areas (besides the occasional taxi), but after experiencing the long traffic delays and lack of air conditioning while seated in them, I plan on traveling more by the tube next time I go to London.
A wonderful “holiday” spent in a wonderful country; unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime. Isn’t that the perfect description to a dream vacation? We experienced that dream being fulfilled on this journey – the entire trip exceeded all of our expectations beyond belief!
Leslie
Nikiski, Alaska
i Tony , this trip
has got to be one of the most exciting trips I've ever experienced. Your
planning and advise included in the Survival Guide was unsurpassed.
The food and service was great at the Hard Rock Cafe , but there was
some confusion about the existence of vouchers to pay for the dinner. I
reassured them that there was recent communication between you and
management where you were going to be billed as the time for the
reservation drew nearer. They did have a reservation for Martha and I
but offered us another menu other than the PLATINUM. We corrected the
problem and they complied.
Richard Porter was a blast , he's very knowledgeable about the
Beatle places. We bought several things from his store including the
guide book and a DVD. Out of respect for McCartney , he wouldn't take us
to his house 2 blocks off Abbey Road , Martha and I found it anyway and
the gates were opening as we were walking by. It was a landscaping
truck departing from the property. Did you know that Billy Fury lived
across the street from Paul'
I must hand it to you , my favorite guide was Jackie . She's
funny and spontaneous . We'll never forget her. Martha my wife is a
Beatle fan but not a die-hard fan like I am. She said that she has a way
deeper appreciation of the Beatles . She got a chance of feeling so
close to places and things that pertained to the miracle in progress
that were the Beatles. I reminded Jackie that after the Beatles break-up
, anybody that was involved with the band , that have passed on , have
died in the USA. Mal ,John , Linda , Mo and George. Spooky , no'
I got a chance to play Bass at the Jacaranda on open mike night on
Thursday. Played She Loves You and Twist and Shout. It was a young crowd
but got a whole bunch of hugs and kisses after I was done.
Everything was in place for Dublin. It's a great party town but
lacks the organization that London and Liverpool offer. Although the
airport is not too far from the Hotel , it can take a good half hour for
the trip. It costs about $25 Euros each way. Be careful not to miss a
cab on Sunday morning on your way to the airport. All the cabs are busy
taking the drunks home at 5 to 7 in the morning. I thought that they
were all going to church! The Airport was completely full on Sunday
morning. There is too much traffic. My advise is to reserve a cab the
night before departure. We lucked out.
The Hotel was excellent , very friendly and very clean. They offer a
safe box with a key. It's located outside the reception area , and it
requires a key from the receptionist as well . I felt OK with
this. Don't lose your Safe box key or the will charge you 250 Euros. I
asked if I could keep the key in the safe then. We did have breakfast
outside the Hotel since it is a bit pricey. We had a blast at the
Guinness brewery factory.
The flight to Paris was very good as well. Everything was on schedule , right on time.
Tony , keep up the excellent service. You are the best. Great choice
in accommodations and travel! We'll never forget this experience.
Your friends
Hugh & Martha - Seattle, WA
Today i 'm going to leave England. After i'm going to Italy for a trip.7/9 i will go back to Japan.
Although i stayed England just 2month and harf, during this time i met many good people, many beautiful place, i saw interesting thing, these are very special for me. I will not foget about everything. Especially the nice happening in Liverpool is the best memory of my England life! I love England and England people. I want come back someday.
So i wanted to say thank you.
I think you are the best tourguide in the world!
Bye!
Hi Tony Our Tour Guy!
I'm so glad you got more pictures of Pete and I. Renee and I only got the one shot of Pete and the two of us. I have a few pictures to forward to you too - Boss ManJ I will get them downloaded (uploaded') and forward them to you asap. Meanwhile, any other pictures you feel like sending -I would love to take a look. The group shots would be nice. I think you are planning to post some on the web site too ...right' Anyhow, there is no such thing as too many pictures, especially from such an incredible trip as this one certainly was.
Don't be surprised if Renee and I book another tour in the future - I think we're hooked on Liverpool. I'll be in touch with pictures for you, meanwhile, YOU stay in touch too.
Robyn
Hey Tony!
Just a note to let you know we did make it home fine. Actually, we were dreading the flight back due to how excruciatingly long the flight over seemed, but it wasn't as uncomfortable as we expected.
We absolutely loved the tour, and I will gather my thoughts and send you an email with more thoughts about everything. But, basically, I want to say that this trip exceeded our wildest dreams in the most positive way. It was so good to finally meet you. Even though it was a "working" vacation for you, I hope you managed to enjoy yourself too. Basically, my only regret is that I missed Gerry and the Pacemakers. That was the morning that jet lag reared its ugly head in a big way and we didn't wake up until almost noon. I hadn't gotten a schedule yet, so we just totally missed a magical moment.L Other than that, we took advantage of every minute of every day!
Yes, it was a very special trip for me, as you know. Even Renee has a deeper appreciation for all things "Beatle" now, as well as the history and roots of the Liverpool and London areas. She enjoyed herself immensely too. Like I said, I'll write more later about our thoughts of the tour, etc.
Meanwhile, I am so anxious to see all your pictures. I look forward to that. I might find some with you in them to send to you as well.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks for the fab time!
Renee
I really hope to make it in 2008. We'll see.... Look forward to seeing your pictures!
Thanks again
Marla
It`s me Hanna from Finland. Should you remember I was on the latest Beatletour back in August/ September. :) I just remembered that I hadn`t thanked you for the absolutely amazing trip I got to experience with my sister Kaisa. So I`ll do it now: THANK YOU! :) I still have to pinch myself sometimes when I think about all the stuff i saw in Britain `cos I`m having a hard time realizing that the trip really happened and that I was really there. I went to see the pictures from the tour on your websites and they brought back many happy memories...like the "Hard days night"-running scene re-done by a bunch of crazy Finns. :D I`m definately going to visit Liverpool and London again during the Beatlesweek some year...you never know, we might even meet there again someday! :) Until then all the best for all of your tours to come. "It won`t be long"
until next August. :)
Oh, I nearly forgot: "Varo!" (Be carefull ) <---- remember that one' :)
Best wishes, Hanna and Kaisa from Finland
Wow! What a fantastic time we had! It's definitely one I'll never forget. I've been going over pictures and the journal I kept and am still having trouble concentrating on work. Thanks for the best 51st birthday I could have ever though imaginable, celebrated with Bill Harry at the Hard Rock! Still can't believe it really happened. Thanks to wonderful Jackie in Liverpool. She was absolutely wonderful. The whole experience made me feel like I was 12 again and it was 1964! Thanks Tony & Pat for a fabulous trip! The other Debbie (The other Marty's sister) in Oregon
Thank you so much for enabling us to raise $3,352 for Save The Children. Yoko will be matching that figure making a total of $6,704 from the Charity Raffle.
Mark Lapidos - President 'The Fest for Beatle Fans'
Hopefully all us eastcoasters can meet up. I have a lot of great photos, and hopefully by next week, I can email some of them to everyone on the trip.
Until then, take care and keep in touch.
Beatles Forever!!! Kari (Baltimore, MD)
I made it home OK (I was even upgraded to economy plus). I didn't quite feel myself until today, I spent Sunday and Monday sleeping off the after vacation hangover. I had a wonderful time that I'll never forget. Pat and yourself were just THE BEST guides a girl could've asked for. The only complaint I have was that it was over way to fast. Michele (with one L) from Wisconsin
So, again thank you for a wonderful tour. It was just great! Jackie gave the best tour I either had. Meeting with the people really made you see how wonderful a place really is. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I felt safer in Liverpool than London but I told my husband right away that I would do this tour again. And I am sure Debbie would too. Until we get together for the next tour, take care and be good. Clara from PA.
I just wanted to tell you that you and Pat did a FANTASTIC job ! I had a great time and enjoyed both the tour and time spent with you and the entire group.
thank you ! Jerry from Philadelphia, PA
(The other) Marty from Oregon
Anyway, thanks again for a great tour! Marty from South Carolina
Your one in a million! Debbie, MN
Now back to reality........Debbie, Minneapolis, MN
And another...
I very carefully watched AHDN and you can see an island during Ringo's deserter scene. Also while he is walking you see the trees to the left that we were right by. It was exciting to see this. I think they must have done alot in the background since then, but with the bridge and the island and trees you can definitely see that the new sight we picked out was where they filmed. Also, it was great seeing the pub I actually was sitting waiting for my drink where Ringo stood to order his sandwich.
It is all sinking in now that it is over and is making me sad. I have gotten some of my pics developed, but was hoping to get a job before I put any more of my money into development. Thanks again, you made my dream come true!!!!!!!
Deb
And another...
I took so many pictures, it's taking forever to get through them. But here's one of me and Kathy with Pete Best. Thanks again for the opportunity... --Mike
Sincere thanks, Claudia and Kristyn, Portland, ME
'An affectionate, respectful visit to the places that have their moments in the Beatles' music and lives.'
'An unforgettable tour that exceeded all my expectations. The Beatles Pilgrimage is a 'must' for every fan.'
Just a quick note to tell you that I have heard great things from people in different web sites that say how much they have enjoyed your tours and how much I will like the trip!!! Just wanted you to know that people have great things to say. (Also that your a pretty nice guy!!) Great feedback wouldn't you say!!!
Debbie